Happenings: Tibetan Monks

The monks of Tibet’s Drepung Loseling Monastery will be visiting Texas State University as part of their international tour, The Mystical Arts of Tibet, and the university’s Common Experience event series, A Global Odyssey. During their week-long stay, the monks will share Tibetan Buddhist culture through music and art.

Endorsed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the tour has three basic purposes: to make a contribution to world peace and healing; to generate a greater awareness of the endangered Tibetan civilization; and to raise support for the Tibetan refugee community in India.

Famed multiphonic singers, whose sellout performances in Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center received national acclaim, the highlight of the monks’ visit to campus will be their concert, “Sacred Music Sacred Dance for World Healing,” on Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013, at 7 p.m. in Evans Auditorium.

The monks of Drepung Loseling have a distinguished performance record, having shared the stage with Kitaro, Paul Simon, Philip Glass, Edie Brickell, Natalie Merchant, Patti Smith, the Beastie Boys, and the Grateful Dead’s Mickey Hart. Their music was featured on the Golden Globe-nominated soundtrack of the film Seven Years in Tibet and in live performance of Philip Glass’ award-winning score to the Martin Scorsese film Kundun.

The monks’ other activities throughout the week will include:

Opening ceremony with music on Monday, Jan. 28, at noon in the LBJ Student Center Paseo area

Sand mandala creation with continuous public viewing from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. throughout the week in the LBJ Student Center

Public reception on Wednesday, Jan. 30, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the Honors Coffee Forum (LAMP 407)

Closing ceremony, which will involve music, erasure of the mandala and pouring the sand into the San Marcos River, on Friday, Feb. 1, at noon, starting in the LBJ Student Center and concluding in Sewell Park

Beyond their musical performances, the monks visual art also promotes healing and peace in the world. They had the honor of creating special mandalas and leading prayer ceremonies and meditations in New York and Washington. They have twice been featured artists at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival and in July 2003 enjoyed the rare honor of representing Tibet in the Cultural Olympiad of Greece, a pre-Olympic celebration of World Sacred Music and Dance.

During their world tour, the monks have visited many universities and cultural centers. To get a glimpse of the monks and the talents they will share while on campus, watch this video about the monks’ 2009 visit to Emory University in Atlanta, Ga.

Admission to all events is free and open to the public, sponsored by the Common Experience and the Organization of Student Social Workers. If you require accommodations due to a disability in order to participate, please call 512.245.7952 at least 72 hours prior to the event.